The 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival

The 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival Brings the Best in the World and the 10th Anniversary of the Great Charity Challenge to Wellington

Every
year for the past 40 years, from January to April , Wellington transforms into
an elite equestrian playground during the Winter Equestrian Festival.

The
2019 WEF press conference held at the Palm Beach International Center show
grounds on January 8, featured organizers and riders who spoke of a promising
season slated to be one of the best ever.

2019
WEF brings the best hunter jumpers, dressage riders, derby and eventing
competitors from all over the world, a feat Equestrian Sport Productions CEO
Mark Bellissimo takes very seriously.

Bellissimo
boasted that WEF is now the world’s largest equestrian festival and continued
success in North Carolina and Colorado add to the exposure of all equestrian
sports in the United States. “I believe the unprecedented audience and success
at WEG ( FEI World Equestrian Games) will benefit us locally as more attention
has been brought to the United States equestrian world.”

ESP
President Michael Stone spoke of new technology used for the ground that the
equestrians compete on, called footing. Stone added that world experts from
Belgium and Sweden were consulted to help create a surface that provides the
best performance conditions for riders of all disciplines. “If you stand still
your dead,” Stone said. “We analyze every year and address innovation.” Stone
also noted that the 2019 WEF season will feature changing formats and more of a
variety of competitions.

And
then there is the highly anticipated Great Charity Challenge presented by
Fidelity Investments which will be February 2 this year, during Week 4 of WEF.

In
its tenth year, GCC Executive Director Anne Caroline Valtin explained how the
equestrian community continues to contribute to the successful philanthropic
outreach where riders and their horses are dressed in costumes and compete
representing the different charities. Valtin added “We are the World” will be
the GCC theme this year, embracing diversity and unity to create harmony and
success. So far to date, GCC has dispersed over 12 million dollars to 230 Palm
Beach County and local Wellington non-profit organizations.

Whether
it’s Friday Night Stars featuring gorgeous horses moving to music during the
Adequan Global Dressage Festival (across for PBIEC), Saturday Night Lights
where jumpers compete for top money prizes at PBIEC or Sunday Funday at the International
Polo Club, equestrian enthusiasts, competitors and spectators will be happy for
this ultimate horse haven here in Wellington and the most beautiful weather in
the country.

For more information on Great Charity Challenge, the 2019 WEF and Polo seasons, visit www.pbiec.coth.com.

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